The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-04-30
LEGISLATIVE PROCEEDINGS.


Tho Debate on the Senatorial Mnttcr.
Lucas 'Pronuncinmsuto.
Special Dispatch to The InteIligencer.
CHARLESTON, W. Va, April 29.-Whon
the Senate met to-day Mr.. Sommerville'u
Senate joint resolution No 9. declaring it
to be thu duty Of the Legislature to elect
a United States Senator at this uesoion,
came mp. Mr.. Flournoy moved to eubsti.
tuto for this his resolution, that there ex-
ists no authority in or obligation upon this
Legislature at its present session to elect
or attempt to elect United States Seus-
tor, aud such IN election woula be uncon-
stitudonal and "vo;d"
Mr.. 6ommervilla made an exhaustive
argument, consuming the whole morning
session, taking the ground that the Legis.
lsture should elect. and advancing the idea
that this is not such session as contem-
plated by the constitutional provision con-
corning extraordinary sessions, and that
therefore the Legislature can consider any
aud all measures it deeired to take up. Ho
sent to the clerks desk and had read Mr..
Lucas letter, and then reviewed and en-
Bwered its arguments Deriatlln.
.. LUCAS BULLETIN.
Mr.. Lucas maintainp, with elaborate ar
gument, that an election by the Lcgiala.
ture in extra seesion would be void. He
concludes: "Iam compelled to say, there
fore, that ifthis Legislature adjourns with
out electine, and especially II it passes q
resolution declaring that it has no power
to elect nnder the condition of the State,
the apprehension OF misrepresentation in
the Senate will fall to the ground as en-
tirely without foundation, and the ap.
pointee will, in my opinion, be accorded
his seat without contest. II, on the
other hand, the Legislature attempts to
elect and actually does elect, a contest will
at once be pecipitsted which may result
in defeating both the oppointee OF the
Governor and that OF the Legislature"
In the afternoon Mr.. Minear under
took to eecure an adjournment that his
investigation committee might hold a
session, but the Senate rejected the mo-
ton.
Mr.. Sommerville resumed his argument
and read the proceedings in the California
urst.Williams caae Of 1886, which, heheld
presented exactly analogous points to
those which would arise here we're a Sena.
tor to be elected. Mr.. Sommeryille con-
cluded at 4:l5 r. NJ, when Mr.. Flournoy
took the floor and made an able speech,
taking the ground that an election at this
session would not be legal. He eaid
whether Mr.. Lucas would hold his seat
or not in case the Legislature did not
cleo! at this session had nothing to do
with it. When he finished, ut 5:S5, the
Senate Adjourned.
Tho question OF printing the testimony
Of the Insane Asylum investigation came
up in the House, pending the considera.
ton Of the general appropriation bill on
the proposition to expend $500 for that
purpose, the House referred it back for
publication to the option Of tho Gov.
ernor, and ordered one hundred copieo OF
the evidence takon by the Committee and
subsequently by the Board Of Directors.
The vote stood IS to "a, few Democrats
voting With the Republicans to order the
publication. .F sJ
a proposition to roduce General Watts
fec ii the Chesapeake 4 Ohio cass from
$3. 900 to 81, 500 consumed the remainder
OF tho afternoon session. It was loat, ant
the s., 1000 was declared to be in full Of al
Compensation from the State and counter
interested. .4s;s 5g
SUPERINTENDENT PRoK's CAsR.
The following document, received Wed
nesday, was largely Instrumentation o.
tensibly, at least, the reason for some Son
ators' action-in bringing about the re
lection Of Superintendent Peck's nomlna'
ton. It was not intended for publication
as may be guessed from its address and ar
gument: g.l (. .Ss * Z
To ne Democratic Senator'S Of West Vir
ginia: " li'i